Medieval Syria And The Onset Of The Crusades (the Political World Of Bilad Al-sham 1050-1128)

By (author) Wilson, James
Short description/annotation:
Surveys a turbulent chapter of Syrian history from multiple perspectives, recalibrating the underlying power dynamics of the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries.
Description:
Between 1050 and 1128 the nomadic Seljuq Turks and European Crusaders subjected northern Syria to a series of invasions from the east and west. The migration of militant peoples from the Eurasian Steppe and Western Europe inserted a new set of political elites into a complex frontier zone already beset by numerous conflicts fought along several ethno-cultural and religious contours. Surveying this turbulent chapter of Syrian history from multiple perspectives, this book recalibrates the underlying power dynamics of the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries. Through this regional focus, it reassesses both the impact that the establishment of Turkish and Crusader lordships had upon bilad al-sham (Greater Syria) and the reactions of Syria''s established ruling elite to this unprecedented sequence of events. Providing a unique reinterpretation of the political situation in bilad al-sham during one of the most important periods in Middle Eastern history, this book proposes a new model for understanding the political dynasties of this period and questions the significance ascribed to the establishment of the Crusader States by modern historians.
Description:
Between 1050 and 1128 the nomadic Seljuq Turks and European Crusaders subjected northern Syria to a series of invasions from the east and west. The migration of militant peoples from the Eurasian Steppe and Western Europe inserted a new set of political elites into a complex frontier zone already beset by numerous conflicts fought along several ethno-cultural and religious contours. Surveying this turbulent chapter of Syrian history from multiple perspectives, this book recalibrates the underlying power dynamics of the late eleventh and early twelfth centuries. Through this regional focus, it reassesses both the impact that the establishment of Turkish and Crusader lordships had upon bilad al-sham (Greater Syria) and the reactions of Syria’s established ruling elite to this unprecedented sequence of events. Providing a unique reinterpretation of the political situation in bilad al-sham during one of the most important periods in Middle Eastern history, this book proposes a new model for understanding the political dynasties of this period and questions the significance ascribed to the establishment of the Crusader States by modern historians.
Table of contents:
List of Figures Acknowledgements Note on Names, Transliteration and Abbreviations Abbreviations Principal Historical Figures, Dynasties and Terminology Introduction: Defining and Exploring the Political World of Bilad al-sham Historiographical Overview The Primary Sources The Scope of this Book Notes Part I Historical Sketch of Bilad al-sham Introduction: Part I The System of Autonomous lordships in Syria Byzantine, Fatimid and Seljuq Syria Notes 1 The Byzantine Empire Byzantine Bilad al-sham The Antiochene–Aleppan Balance of Power The Byzantine Political Footprint in the Face of Seljuq Incursions Byzantine Interactions with Local Rulers in Bilad al-sham Conclusion: the Break-up of Byzantine Bilad al-sham Notes 2 The Fatimid Caliphate Fatimid Bilad al-sham The Fatimid Political Footprint in Northern Syria: 442–463/1050–1071 The Fatimid Collapse in Southern Syria and Palestine Fatimid Interactions with Local Rulers in Bilad al-sham Conclusion: The Fatimids as ‘the Other’ in Bilad al-sham? Notes 3 The Great Seljuq Sultanate Seljuq Bilad al-sham The Sultan in Bilad al-sham Syrian Campaigns Instigated by Malik Shah The Seljuq Perpetuation of the System of Autonomous Lordships in Syria Seljuq Bilad al-sham in the Sixth/Twelfth Century The Tü